Missing Children

1. Definitions

Various terms are used in relation to missing children:

Statutory Guidance on Children Who Run Away or Go Missing From Home or Care (January 2014) uses the following definitions:

• Missing child:
  
  A child reported as missing to the police by their family or carers.

• Missing from Care:
  
  A Looked After child who is not at their placement or the place they are expected to be (e.g. school) and their whereabouts are not known.

• Away from Placement Without Authorisation:
  
  A Looked After child whose whereabouts are known but who is not at their placement or the place they are expected to be and the carer has concerns or the incident has been notified to the local authority or the Police.

• Young Runaway:
  
  A child who has run away from their home or care placement, or feels they have been forced or lured to leave.
• Police Response:
  
  On receiving a missing person report the Police will assess the risks to the missing person using a continuum of risk which ranges from 'no apparent risk (absent)' through to high-risk cases that require immediate, intensive action. For more information, see the College of Policing definition of missing and absent.

A young person (i.e. aged under 18 years) is to be considered 'missing' if they are absent from their place of residence, their whereabouts are unknown, or in circumstances where the absence or events leading to it, cause concern for their safety or that of others. These situations may raise concern where staff members have no indication that the young person is likely to return within a short period of time, their whereabouts are unknown and their safety and wellbeing cannot be ascertained.

Residential staff should refer to the young person's current safety plan/risk assessment about the risks for the young person which may include behaviour which is out of character or events leading to the young person going missing, and will rely on the staff having a good understanding of each young person's behaviour. In all instances efforts will be made to reduce the likelihood of young people being reported as missing by encouraging them to maintain contact with the Home.

When a young person is missing from the Home under these circumstances, their safety is paramount and staff must follow all necessary procedures to try to ascertain their whereabouts and return them to the Home safely.

It is the role of staff with their knowledge of each young person, any concerning events and knowledge of current safety plans/risk assessments, to decide when a young person should be reported as missing and what level of risk this is deemed to be. It may be stipulated on a young persons safety plan/risk assessment that a young person must be reported as missing in all circumstances of leaving the home and these stipulations must be adhered to.

The Police will not send an officer to cases where children/young people are defined as being at no apparent risk ('absent'). Instead the onus in this situation will be on the home to take steps to locate the child/young person, with on-going monitoring of risk and escalation if there is a change to the circumstances or an increase in the level of risk.

2. Culture

Children are less likely to go missing if they feel secure and safe, able to express their feelings, make appropriate choices and develop positive relationships with the staff and their peers, and are free from bullying.

Children should have a clear understanding of expectations upon them, the routines of the home and house rules; to this end, they should know whether it's acceptable, or not, to leave the home without permission or consent. The potential risks if they go missing should be explained. Children's should be provided with contact details for the Children's Commissioner, Childline or have access to an independent person.

While the reasons why young people run away or go missing from their residential care placement are complex, any missing episode should always be treated as a clear indicator that something is not right in the child's life.

3. Planning and Prevention

Residential care staff can help reduce the likelihood of young people going missing (or reduce the likelihood of the child going missing again) by carrying out thorough assessments which inform the care planning and review processes, by providing individualised support and by showing care and concern for the young people living in the home.

At the initial planning stage, local authorities have a duty to place a looked after child in the most appropriate placement to safeguard the child and minimise the risk of the child running away. The Home's Impact Risk Assessment must address any Missing from Home concerns.

The Placement Plan and Safety plan should include strategies for preventing the child from going missing and process to follow if the young person is missing.

A safety plan/ risk assessment should be completed for all children for whom there is concern that they may run away. A number of risk factors should be considered for instance; Risk of CSE, county lines issues, risks of criminal exploitation, lifestyle, associates as well as the distance of the children's home from their home. The risk assessment should be updated after any missing incident and should be regularly reviewed. The risk assessment should detail possible places or persons associated with episodes of going missing and should be referred to whenever a child goes missing or runs away. Each staff member, including casual staff, should be aware of the contents of the safety plan/ risk assessment and understand the process to follow in the event of a young person going missing from home.

Where there are child protection concerns relating to a child and/or where the child has gone missing from the placement or from any previous placement, the Placement Plan, safety plan/ risk assessment must include information agreed between the local authority the children's home and other relevant agencies such as the Police, about the day-to-day arrangements put in place to keep the child safe.

Children should be provided with contact details for an independent advocate.

Statutory reviews should consider any missing episodes and revise strategies to prevent repeat missing incidents and the care plan should be revised accordingly. In the event of repeated missing from Home episodes, consideration will be given to arrange a multi-agency strategy meeting to discuss the concerns and develop strategies to safeguard the young person. It is the responsibility of the children's home staff team/Registered Manager to ensure the young person's care team are made aware of any incident of a young person missing from Home.

Key workers should ensure that children and young people are aware of the dangers they may face if they run away and should offer support to the young person if they feel like running away. Staff should ensure young people have access to support services to discuss any issues they may have, such as their social worker, independent person etc. It is important that staff show care and concern for the young people living in the home. Preventive work is vital, for example if you know that a young person is worried about something (such as a difficult meeting) take the time to talk to them specifically about this. Staff should help young people develop alternative responses to stressful situations in their levels other than running way.

At the request of the child, or where there are concerns about a child who frequently goes missing, the home's manager should consider raising concerns with the child's Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) or arranging a meeting between the child and the placing authority to consider the reasons for the child going missing and agree strategies to reduce the risk.

Where the child persistently goes missing from the placement their next Looked After Review should be brought forward.

4. Leaving the Home without Consent

If a child indicates that they propose to leave the home without consent, staff should in the first instance speak to them about this, and try to dissuade them.

It is crucial that staff always show care and concern, even if they are sure that a child is going to leave. Staff should take all reasonable steps to prevent children from leaving, especially if it will result in the child or others being placed at risk.

As a last resort, this can include the use of physical restrictions such as the locking or bolting of door to restrict the child's movement or Physical Intervention, if this is immediately necessary to prevent Significant Harm.

As a last resort, this can include the use of physical restrictions such as the locking or bolting of door to restrict the child's movement or Physical Intervention, if this is immediately necessary to Use of Restraint and Physical Interventions Procedure, Security Within the Home.

5. Initial Actions if a child goes Missing

In the absence of any agreed strategy in the child's Placement Plan, the following should apply if it is apparent or suspected that a child is missing. In such circumstances, staff should take whatever actions are immediately necessary to recover the child, bearing in mind any risks posed to the child or others.

5.1 Initial Actions

It is the responsibility of ALL staff working in the home (not just the manager) to act whenever a child goes missing.

Initial Actions - Whenever the whereabouts of a looked after child are not known, the manager on duty is responsible in the first instance for carrying out preliminary checks to see if the child can be located. E.g. if a child was supposed to have returned home from school but has not arrived within the normal journey time, checks could include finding out if there are transport delays, phone calls to the child, phone calls to the school to see if the child has been delayed etc.

All young people have coming-in times which they are expected to adhere to and any routines and variations from these will be clearly stated in their placement plans and safety plans/risk assessments, with which all staff will be familiar. When a young person causes concern if they have not returned to the home, it is necessary to initiate procedures which encourage the quick and safe return of the young person while causing as little stress or disruption as possible, ensuring the young person is treated positively on return.

• The age (see below) and potential vulnerability of the young person will affect the Interventions which staff should take;
• The legal status of the young person; those remanded to care of local authority or where residence is a condition of bail, will usually be reported as missing immediately;
• Staff must take all reasonable steps to ascertain the whereabouts of the young person and assure their safe return before contacting the police or other services:
  • Try to contact the young person or friends they are with via calls and use of social networks;
  • Search the young person's room (Room Search Log must be completed), the building and, if practical, the immediate area;
  • Ask other young people who live at the home if they know of the missing person's whereabouts, if appropriate;
  • Check any social media accounts;
  • Contact known friends or family members whom the young person may contact.
• Any young person who goes missing from their placement for the first time will be reported as such without delay;
• Staff must start completing the Missing from Home Log and complete MFH1 and MFH2 of the Philomena Protocol.

At the same time, residential care staff (who by nature of their relationship with the child or young person will often have the best idea where and/or who the child may be with) should also be active in going out and searching for the young person and contacting their friends, associates and family members.

A deadline should be agreed at the outset of these initial checks so that they do not continue beyond a reasonable timeframe. What constitutes a reasonable timeframe should be decided on a case by case basis following an assessment of the risks relating to the individual child. In some cases, there might be particular reasons to be worried for the child's safety immediately; in this instance the Police and the placing authority should be contacted straight away.

If the initial checks do not succeed in locating the child or there are still concern that, despite contact being made with the child they are at risk, the Police, the placing authority, the child's parents if appropriate should be informed.

5.2 Recovering the Child

Any actions taken to recover the child and return them to the home must focus on promoting the child's welfare and must take account of their legal status, age, understanding and the level of risk posed to the child or others. If children are found but refuse to return to the home, staff must consult the manager (who should consult the child's social worker) or, in an emergency/where the child or others are seriously at risk, call the Police. The use of physical interventions, such as restraint should only be used in a last resort where there is an immediate risk of significant harm, serious damage to property and staff are confident that such interventions will work/de escalate the situation and make the child safe. If this outcome is not likely, they should withdraw and immediately consult their manager or the Police.

6. Risk Assessments, Monitoring and Notifications

Once staff in the home establish that the child is missing the Police should be notified and after working hours, the Emergency Duty Team also...Children's Home staff will begin to complete the Philomena Protocol to share with police officers.

6.1 Information Sharing and Recording

When notifying/informing Durham Police of the missing from Home episode, it is vital to provide information about the circumstances and risk factors that led to the child going missing. In order to contact the police ring 101 or 999 if the young person is assessed as being in immediate danger. In telephone call to police, give age, name, date of birth, physical description of the young person, circumstances surrounding their absence and identify status of young person in terms of their absence to achieve correct response from police. Police will supply a Log Number which staff should record on the (MFH) Missing From Home Log to allow easy reference if following phone calls are necessary. It is also important to discuss possible strategies for finding and recovering the child safely, and the actions the home have already taken to try and locate / contact the child. Agreement should also be reached about others who may need to know the child is missing e.g. the child's parents.

The Police will require the following information:

Parts one and two of the Philomena Protocol.

1. A description of the child, possibly a photograph, and personal information such as distinguishing marks, tattoos, etc.
2. When the child was last seen and with whom;
3. Family addresses;
4. Other addresses of people the child may make contact with;
5. Any previous history of the child going missing.

The Police, social worker and others notified must then be updated as circumstances change including if the child returns.

Children's Homes must keep records detailing all individual incidents when children go missing from the home, including any information relating to the child's whereabouts during the missing episode.

The child's Placement Plan, safety plan/risk assessment should be reviewed regularly, including after any missing episode.

7. Going Missing for Prolonged Periods

On the first working day after the child has been reported missing, the Home's manager, or senior for the home must be notified. Dependent upon the presenting risks associated with the young person, consideration should be given to convening a risk management meeting to develop strategies to manage any risks.

Also, the home should consult/update the Police and social worker with any updates or further information or at the very least, every day for the first 7 days, to review the strategies that can be adopted to find/return the child.

After 72 hours, the Police will notify the UK Missing Persons Bureau.

If the child is still missing after 5 days or less if young person is assessed as high risk, the Home's manager, social worker, team manager and child's Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) must be notified/consulted to decide what actions to take e.g.

1. The convening of a risk management meeting/ Strategy Discussion;
2. Use by the Police of their powers to recover the child, for example, placing a child in Police Protection;
3. An application for a Recovery Order;
4. An application for a Secure Accommodation Order;
5. The use of publicity.

8. Bringing Children Back to the Home

If a child's whereabouts become known, staff should consult the social worker and Police about the most appropriate way to return the child to the home or care.

Any actions taken should preferably be with the co-operation or by negotiation with the child.

Where a looked after child has run away they should have the opportunity to talk, before they return to their placement, to a person who is independent of their placement about the reasons they went missing. The child should be offered the option of speaking to an independent representative or advocate (see Independent Return Interviews below).

9. When a Child Returns

The way staff respond to young people when they return is key to preventing future missing episodes and to ascertaining any harm they may have experienced.

The young person should be welcomed, given a consistent message of care and offered support. Their medical/physical condition should be sensitively discussed, and the offer of medical attention given if appropriate. Young people should be offered something to eat and drink and offered a bath/shower etc if appropriate. Staff must call 101 to inform the police if a young person has returned home. Staff will inform other interested parties that the young person has returned; this will include the Emergency Duty Team, social worker, and those with parental responsibility.

The young person should have the opportunity to see an independent advocate alone if they wish to do so. Staff should liaise with the police if any discussion with the young person implicates them in criminal activity or as the victim of a crime.

At an appropriate point soon after the event, staff should talk to the young person and try to ascertain reasons for the absence as well as measures to prevent its repetition and this should be recorded in the Missing from Home log.

Staff will complete a Missing from Home Log in preparation for the young person being seen within 72 hours by an independent visitor for a Return Home Interview.

The police will conduct a safe and well check at the home. This is carried out as soon as possible after the young person has returned to the home; they will visit the Home to check on the young person's welfare and safety. This will usually be carried out with a staff member but if police feel the young person would like to talk without the presence of staff, they will ensure the presence of a second officer at another time if necessary. As a result of any child protection concerns, the Police Child Protection Unit may become involved and may request a meeting under Durham Children's Safeguarding Partnership. This check and any relevant related information should be recorded and shared as appropriate. However, if there are concerns about the welfare of the young person, then observation checks must be continued at appropriate intervals.

A decision may be made to call a risk management/Strategy Meeting In the circumstances of concerns being raised; these should be passed on to the Home Manager and follow guidance in the local child protection and safeguarding procedure.

The police, social worker and others notified that the child was missing must be informed when the child returns.

At the request of the child, or where there are concerns about a child who frequently goes missing, the home's manager should consider arranging a meeting between the child and the placing authority to look at their reasons for going missing.

Independent Return Interviews

An Independent Return Interview must be offered when the child returns. This interview should be carried out by an independent professional (e.g. a social worker, teacher, health professional worker from an organisation commissioned to undertake these interviews who does not usually work with the child and is trained to carry out these interviews). Children sometimes need to build up trust with a person before they will discuss in depth the reasons why they ran away.

While the person conducting the interview should usually be independent of the child's placement and of the responsible local authority, an exception may be where a child has a strong relationship with a carer or social worker and has expressed a preference to talk to them, rather than an independent person, about the reasons they went missing.

The responsible local authority should ensure the Return Interview takes place, working closely with the host authority where appropriate. Contact should be made with the child within 72 hours of them being located or returning, to arrange an Independent Return Interview in a neutral place where they feel safe.

The purpose of the Independent Return Interview is to build up a picture of why the child went missing, what happened while they were missing and who they were with. Information from the Independent Return Interview should be used to develop strategies to reduce the likelihood of the young person going missing again. Children should be informed that the information from Independent Return Interviews will be used in this way.

In some cases feelings of unrest or unhappiness in the home may directly contribute to a child running away or going missing, and this should be explicitly considered when they return.

10. Recording, Notifications and Review

10.1 Recording

For details about recording the initial incident (when the child is reported as missing) see Section 6.1, Information Sharing/Recording.

Throughout this process, including the young person's return, staff must record in the MFH log all relevant details, interventions taken and messages received or given. The MFH log must include details of times of leaving and returning and any specific factors, such as who the young person was with, any indications of alcohol or drug use, thus helping to build up a picture of any patterns of behaviour which could lead to opportunities to reduce the likelihood of a young person going missing in the future. The Home Manager will audit relevant recordings as part of the Quality Assurance process to consider any trends or issues.

• Daily Log;
• Child's Daily Record/File;
• Missing Log.

10.2 Notifications

When the child returns, all those notified that the child was missing must be informed.

If the child was involved in sexual exploitation, Ofsted must be notified.

If there is a pattern of persistent incidents or the circumstances gave rise for serious concern, the home's manager must notify the child's Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO).

10.3 Review

When a child goes missing on a frequent basis or is at risk of harm, the children's home should ask the placing authority to review that child's placement plan. In addition, if there are concerns that a culture or cycle is developing in the home which seems to result in children going missing, both individually or in groups, A Risk Management meeting should be convened to discuss risks and plans moving forward.

Appendix 1: Assessing Levels of Concern Guidance

Section 1: Indicators/Categories of Risk

Section 2: Other factors that should be considered

The following should be considered alongside Section 1: Indicators/Categories of Risk.